Does your macOS suffer from slow performance after a macOS update?

Several users have been reporting the AMPLibraryAgent process is taking up 100% of their CPU processing allocation on their Macs. To give a brief insight into this particular process, it is the media library agent for the Music app and TV app that is responsible for managing your media applications and content.

Now you may be saying, “Ok, I get it. But why is it taking so much processing capacity?.” There are several possible factors, and that may be on the network or software level of your Mac or may even be an incorrect configuration in your Mac’s settings. Whatever the factor may be that causes this process to spike, we will surely cover that in today’s post.

We will discuss each factor as well as provide the appropriate fix according to the risk it implies to your device. It is advisable to try to fix it from the most basic method to lessen the risk of data loss. But when the issue requires you to take a risky approach, we also include tips on how to overcome the risk. We hope that after all this, you will be able to fix the AMPLibraryAgent that’s taking up 100% of CPU of your Mac.

Without further ado, let dive right in.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Check the Device Connectivity
2. Disable and Re-Enable Media Sharing
3. Move the Application
4. Reset PRAM/NVRAM
5. Reinstall the macOS
6. Reach Out to Apple for Support

How to Fix AMPLibraryAgent is Taking Up 100% of CPU After macOS Update: 6 Ways

1. Check the Device Connectivity.

One of the possible reasons why this process is spiking is because it is trying to connect with your other devices. You might be using your Music app or Apple TV app connected to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or even your Smart TV while you have already previously used them with your Mac. To fix this, you need to disconnect your devices from your computer or network and force close the Music or TV apps on your other devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, etc.)

If you are using your Bluetooth or a USB connection, be sure to disconnect it. With regards to your Smart TV and other similar devices, you will want to make sure you disconnect it from your Wi-Fi network momentarily as well. By doing this, you will be able to test whether the AMPLibraryAgent consumption of your CPU is reduced, which may have been caused by data transmissions through the devices.

Another similar scenario mentioned in the Apple Support Community page is a process known as AMPAgent. This is the process responsible for handling your work network connectivity. When your laptop is configured to work on your office network, it tends to find that particular network even when you are out of the office. As users have reported, to fix the issue, you may need to connect to your work office’s VPN, which should see the AMPAgent return to normal CPU usage.

2. Disable and Re-Enable Media Sharing.

If you are using the Apple Media Sharing feature at the moment, the AMPLibraryAgent should be working. But this is not normal, and it should not overload your CPU. There is a possibility that the data needed for your Music app or TV app have been corrupted and is causing the error. To fix it, you need to rebuild this data by simply restarting the entire process and refresh your device.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go ahead and click on the Apple menu icon on your macOS computer and click on the System Preferences option.
2. Then, find and click on the Sharing option, and uncheck the box that says “Media Sharing” option.

3. Next, close the Music or TV app if applicable. Restart your macOS by click on the Apple menu icon and then click on the Restart option.
4. After that, click on the Apple menu icon again and open click on the System Preferences.
5. Finally, click on the Sharing option and enable the Media Sharing by clicking on the checkbox.

Having refreshed your Media Sharing option, your AMPLibraryAgent should not be getting any internal errors. What you should be able to see by going into your Activity Monitor that the CPU should be back to its normal consumption.

3. Move the Application.

There is a workaround that you can do if the AMPLibraryAgent process is still consuming 100% of your CPU capacity. An application is designed to work according to the supporting data it needs. That is why when you open the application folder, you will see the supporting data in the same location. What you can do temporarily is move the executable file away from the folder so it will not function correctly.

You can find the AMPLibraryAgent file with the use of the Finder app on your Mac. Once you find the AMPLibraryAgent process application, create a new folder, and drag the app in there. Make sure to know where to drag back the file if you want to activate it again. By relocating the AMPLibraryAgent file, it should not be able to function correctly and thus will not consume CPU usage.

Once you’ve done this, you can test your Music and TV apps to see if they’re working as well as monitoring your Activity Monitor to see the performance levels for your CPU.

4. Reset PRAM/NVRAM.

Nonvolatile random-access memory or NVRAM is a small memory storage that stores parameter settings in your Mac. It serves as a cache for application data to be used in your system operation. This, of course, includes your Music and TV app. If this data were to be ever corrupted, then it is possible that it may be the source of our problem. To fix it, you will need to rebuild these data back to default values by resetting the NVRAM/PRAM on your Mac.

Before you go through with this reset, it’s essential to take note that your settings: Sound Volume, Display Resolution, Startup disk selection, Time zone, and recent kernel panic information will be set to default. So if you’ve had preset configurations that you do not want to lose, then make sure to keep a record of them before going through with the steps below. Your data and information WILL NOT be erased.

Here’s how you can reset the NVRAM/PRAM on your Mac:

1. Go ahead, shut down your Mac, then turn it back on and immediately press and hold down all the following four keys (as your Mac boots up): Option + Command + P + R.

2. Count to 30 seconds and then release the keys. Your Mac will appear to restart while as you hold down the keys. But make sure to take note of the following:

• • If your Mac typically plays a startups chime every time it boots up, then what you do is you release the keys after the second startup sound. Here’s a great guide by Apple themselves on recognizing your Mac’s chime.
  • If your Mac is an iMac Pro or if you have one of the MacBook Pro models from 2018, then release the keys after the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.
  • If you’re using a firmware password, then you are going to need to turn off the firmware password first before you reset the NVRAM. If you don’t know what it is, then it is most likely that you’ve not set a firmware password.

3. Lastly, once you’ve reset the NVRAM, you can update the settings like your Sound Volume, Display Resolution, Startup disk selection, and Time zone back to how you first initially set it.

5. Reinstall the macOS (Advanced).

There is a possibility that your macOS is corrupted and might be causing this issue. Sometimes, system data corruption can happen deep in the core system files. This usually occurs when the system process is prematurely terminated. It can also happen due to a program error or abnormal power interruption. Whatever the cause may be, you will be able to fix it by doing a clean install.

We do, however, strongly advise that you back up your data on your Mac before going through with it. This is because performing a clean install of your macOS will erase all of the data and information on your Mac.

Once you’re ready and backed up, here’s how you can do it:

1. Go ahead and connect your computer to the internet using Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable.
2. Download the macOS Catalina installer from Apple App Store and click on Get option.
3. Next, confirm that you want to download the software on the message prompt. Ignore the message warning you about an older version of the OS.
4. Wait for the installer to download completely. Once finished, DO NOT click the Open option.
5. Next, create a bootable installer using a flash disk. You will need to connect the bootable installer to your computer later for the installation.
6. Now, restart the computer by clicking on the Apple menu icon and click on the Restart option.
7. Upon the startup, press and hold the Command and R keys until the computer reboots again. You should see the Recovery Mode screen after that.
8. Then, click on Disk Utility on the macOS Utilities screen and click on the Continue option.

9. Select the current startup disk and click on the Erase option at the top portion of the screen. Label the file “Catalina” to continue on the deletion process of the current OS.
10. You may select Mac OS Extended (journaled) for HFS+ format, or you may choose APFS from the list if you are using APFS format. Select GUID Partition Map if applicable and click on Erase to confirm the deletion process.

11. Next, make sure you are still connected to the internet and connect the macOS Catalina bootable disk you made to your computer.
12. Restart the computer again by clicking on the Apple menu icon and click on the Restart option.
13. Upon startup, press and hold on the Option button to select the startup disk. Choose the macOS Catalina bootable disk you have made.
14. Finally, click on Continue to install the macOS Catalina on your computer. Agree on the licensing terms, and your computer will restart after that.

You may also use this method when you are using macOS Mojave or macOS High Sierra. The only difference is that you download the correct version of macOS for your bootable disk. Now that you have rebuilt the core system data on your macOS, your apps should be working correctly. That, of course, includes your Music and Apple TV app, which should not be overloading your CPU.

6. Reach Out to Apple for Support.

If some of the methods above are too technical for you, then the Apple-certified technicians can help you. Aside from hardware repairs, they can check the settings and software side of your Mac. Worst case scenario, they could reinstall the macOS on your computer. So be sure to back up your Mac before you head off. Be sure to check your warranty options for your Mac before you visit. Their services are available at your nearest Apple Store.

You can also talk to an Apple representative over the phone. They can give you instructions on how to fix your computer. If you permit them, they can also connect remotely to your computer and check the settings.

And this is the end of our guide on how to fix the AMPLibraryAgent taking up 100% of CPU after the macOS update on the Mac issue. Thank you for reading this article and for your continuous support. If you have questions related to this topic, please feel free to leave a comment below.

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